Fluid driven pipe rotating device for rotary drilling



J. H. WILSON June 29, 1965 FLUID DRIVEN PIPE ROTATING DEVICE FOR ROTARY DRILLING Filed Sept. 24, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 John Hart Wilson INVENTOR. 1

i Hi; Ann! J. H. WILSON June 29, 1965 FLUID DRIVEN PIPE ROTATING DEVICE FOR ROTARY DRILLING Filed Sept. 24, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 John Han Wilson INVENTOR.

W His Agent J- H. WILSON June 29, 1965 FLUID DRIVEN PIPE ROTATING DEVICE FOR ROTARY DRILLING Filed Sept. 24, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 John Hart Wilson IN VENTOR.

June 29, 1965 J. H. WILSON 3,191,450

FLUID DRIVEN PIPE ROTATING DEVICE FOR ROTARY DRILLING Filed Sept. 24, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 John Hart Wilson I NVEN TOR.

t His Agent Fig. 5

United States Patent 3,191,450 FLUID DRIVEN PIPE ROTATING DEVICE FOR ROTARY DRILLING John Hart Wilson, Wilson Manufacturing (30., Inc., R0. Box 1031, Wichita Falls, Tex. Filed Sept. 24, 1962, Ser. No. 225,666 3 Claims. ((31. 74-219) erform the function of rotating tubing or drill pipe in a bore hole while cleaning out, working over, or drilling the well to a greater depth. The present device is also capable of drilling a bore hole from the surface of the ground downward if desired.

The present device is soconstructed as to' eliminate the necessity of using a Kelly joint to connect between the swivel of the drilling rig and the drill pipe. This device also eliminates the necessity for a rotary table, the drive mechanism, the Kelly drive bushing and other mechanisms incident thereto.

The present device is so constructed that it is relatively light in weight and may be easily moved from one location to another, a minimum of time being required to install the device in operating condition on a string of drill pipe or tubing.

An object of this invention is to provide a drive for rotating tubing or drill pipe to perform a boring operation in the bore hole of a well.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid operated drive for rotating pipe or drill stem in the bore hole of a well, which fluid operated drive may be remotely controlled. i

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid powered drive for rotating tubing or drill stem to perform a boring operation wherein the shafts of the drive mechanism are each supported by spaced apart hearings on rigid frame supports so the entire unit may be assembled before an oil tight casing is fitted thereover, with only one opening in the bottom of the casingwhich requires oil tight seals around a rotating shaft.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device for rotating pipe for drilling within the bore hole of a well, which device has a hollow shaft or length of pipe therethrough which is complementally threaded to receive a pipe connection on each end thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a device, the mechanism of which is self-contained on a frame, and which mechanism is enclosed within an oil tight housing.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a device for rotating pipe or drill stem withinthe bore hole of a well, which device is simple in construction, easy to operate, and which may be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a pipe rotating device which is chain driven, the drive chain of which is of sufiicient strength to impart the maximum torque for drilling, but which willbreak before damage is done to the mechanism.

A final object of the invention is to provide a lubricant oil pump, which is driven directly from the motor, to direct lubricating oil to the chains and to certain of the bearings.

With these objects in view and others which will become manifest as the description proceeds, reference is greater stability to the pipe rotating device.

to be had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate like parts in the several views thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a drilling rig mast, shown in dashed outline, showing, in full outline, a traveling block supporting a swivel, the pipe rotating device, the pipe to be rotated, and the line for attachment of a torque arm thereof;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the pipe rotating device, showing the relation thereof to a mast and to the cables to which one or more torque arms may be attached;

FIG. '3 is a perspective view of the pipe rotating device with the cover of the housing removed to show details of construction;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the device, with only one torque arm being shown thereon; it

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken approximately on line 55 of FIG. 2, showing the driving mechanism in extended relation to better illustrate the driving arrangement therein, and the supporting frame therefor;

With more detailed reference to the drawings, the numeral 11 designates generally a conventional mast used with drilling rigs having a crown block (not shown) with cables 12 depending therefrom, which cables are strung through traveling block 14 in the manner well known in the drilling art. Elevator and linkages 16 support a swivel 18 below the traveling block, to which swivel a drilling fluid hose 20 is attached, to which hose is conheated a mud pump (not shown) for pumping mud therethrough, through swivelhlfi and through pipe 22 into a rotating pipe 24 journaled within the pipe rotating device generally designated at 25.

The hollow shaft or rotatable pipe 24 has a connection 28 on the lower end thereof, which connects with the drill pipe or tubing 30, which is to be rotated in the well, and which pipe or tubing 30 has a drill bit (not shown) on the lower end thereof, to enable working over a well, to enable a well to be cleaned out to its original depth by drilling up the sand and other formation that may have settled into the bottom of the bore hole and become compacted, or, if desired, the device may be utilized to drill a well to a greater depth.

The pipe rotating device 26 is supported from the traveling block :14 by a swivel '18 which is attachably connected to the elevator 16 and linkage 16a. The elevator surrounds a support bar which extends upward from the swivel 18, which bar has a head 19 thereon to sup port the weight of the swivel 18, and the pipe rotating device 26 therefrom, as well as pipe 30 which extends into the bore hole of the well. The pipe rotating device comprises a housing 34, which housing has diametrically positioned faced bosses 35, one on each side thereof. Each boss 3S has screw threaded holes formed therein. A torque arm 32 has a flange 33 on the inner end thereof, which flange has holes formed therein which are complementary to the screw threaded holes formed in the faced bosses 35, so as to receive bolts 36 thereinto to secure the torque arm 32 to the housing 34. A torque arm may be secured to either of the faced bosses 35, or a torque arm 32 may be secured to each of the faced bosses '35. An adjustable linkage 37 is provided between the outer end of the torque arm or arms, and the housing 34 so as to maintain the torque arm against distortion. As shown in FIG. 1, a cable 38 is stretched taut between the upper portion of mast 11 and an anchor point on the floor of the rig being used, or two cables may be arranged in parallel relation, if two torque arms are used, to give A frame 40 "is mounted on and secured to the outer end of each torque arm 32 and each frame 40 has a brace 42 extending between the torque arm 32 and the end thereof so as to rigidly hold each frame 40 with respect to the respective torque arms 32.

Each frame 48 has a hinged section 44 on one end thereof, with hinge 46 'hinging the frame 48 and the frame portion 44 together. A threaded bolt 48 is pivotally connected to frame 40 and extends between open end lugs 50 on frame portion 44 so that the bolt may be swung into and out of engagement with lugs 50. A wing nut 52 is provided on the outer end of the'threaded bolt 48 .so as to enable the wing nut to be loosened and the frame portion 44 hinged about hinge 46.

The frame 40 has a relatively large sheave 54 mounted therein on pin 56. The frame portion 44 has a sheave 58 mounted therein and journaled on pin 60. The respective sheaves 54 and 58 receive the respective cables 38 therebetween, when the frame portion 44 is in closed position, as indicated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4. The sheaves 54 and 58 are mounted in rolling relation with the cable or cables 38, so as the pipe rotating device 26 is moved up and down, the sheaves will roll in guided relation on cable 38, and Will also maintain the pipe rotating device against rotation with respect to cable 38, however, when it is desired to remove the pipe 30 from the bore hole of the well, wing nut or nuts 52 may be loosened sufficiently to allow bolt 48 to pivot about pivot pin 49 to enable the bolt 48 and the frame portion 44 to be moved about the respective pivot pins sufficiently to permit the cable to pass outward from between frame 40 and frame portion 44, whereupon, with the pipe rotating device 26 removed from the cable or cables 38, it may be lowered to the floor of the drilling rig.

A round bar extends upward from the upper end swivel 18 and has an enlarged head 19 thereon so that the elevators 16 will close therearound and support the swivel therefrom. Elevators 16 may be of any conventional design which will enable the attachment of the elevators to pipe and the removal therefrom. The swivel 18 and pipe rotating device 26 may be disconnected from the elevators 16 to enable the traveling block 14 and elevators 16 to be used for removing the drill pipe from the well. A bar 62 is connected to traveling block 14 and extends downward, which bar has a turnbuckle 66 thereon, which turnbuckle is connected to a lug 64 on the upper face of pipe rotating device 26. This arrangement enables the pipe rotating device 26 to be leveled while in use, but which turnbuckle may be disconnected from the traveling block when the pipe rotating device is not in use.

The pipe rotating device 26 has a sturdy plate 68 thereon which forms a top mounting plate, to which plate is secured a unitary frame generally designated at 70. The frame 70 has legs 72, which legs extend downward and are joined to a frame plate 74, which plate 74 is parallel with plate 68. The frame plate 74 comprises a main frame section of less width than the top mounting plate and frame 'plate sections made integral therewith and 4 opening 96 is in axial alignment with holes 75 and 81, when the housing 34 is bolted in place by cap screws '78.

A sprocket 98 is mounted on and secured to hollow shaft 24 and is held in spaced relation between bearings 82 and 84 by spacer sleeves 100 and 102. A nut 104 is screwthreaded onto hollow shaft 24 and is in bearing relation with hearing 84 to maintain the bearing on the hollow shaft 24 in spaced relation to sprocket 98.

The mounting plate 68 has a second hole 69 formed therein, which hole 69 is in axial alignment with a hole 77 which is bored in the framework 74, which respective holes 69 and 77 receive bearings 106 and 108 respectively. A shaft 110 is journaled in bearings 106 and 108 and has sprockets 112 and 114 mounted thereon and secured thereto for rotation therewith. The mounting plate 68 has a hole 79 bored therein to receive a motor mounting plate 116, on which motor mounting plate 116 a fluid drive motor 118 is mounted in piloted relation. The motor mounting plate 116 comprises a lower annular ring portion and an upper annular ring portion. The lower annular ring portion of which fits within hole '79 in the top mounting plate 68, and the upper annular ring portion of which is welded thereto and extends outwardly therefrom to overlap the top mounting plate 68 in close fitting relation. The lower portion of the motor mounting plate 116 and the upper portion thereof are welded together, as will best been seen in FIG. 5. The upper portion of the motor mounting plate 116 is secured to the mounting plate 68 by means of cap screws 120, which cap screws pass through slots 117 in the upper portion of the motor mounting plate 116 to enable lateral movement of motor 118 and sprocket 126 to tighten chain 136. Slots 129 are provided in housing 34 to enable the cap screw 131 to be loosened so the pump 130 may be moved. When the chain is tightened, the cap screws 120 and 131 are tightened to maintain shaft 132 in axial alignment with shaft 124. The fluid drive motor 118 has a shaft 124 extending downward therefrom, on which shaft a sprocket 126 is secured and is fixed against rotation. The housing 34 has a hole 128 formed therein, which hole is in axial alignment with hole 7 9 in mounting plate 69. A lubrication pump 130 is fitted in hole 128. A shaft 132 extends downward from the lower end of shaft 124 and is axially aligned therewith. Shaft 132 is connected in driving relation with a rotatable pump element within pump 130, which pump has a pipe system P leading therefrom in position to pump lubricant to various parts of the mechanism to lubricate the chains and certain of the bearings.

The fluid motor 118 is of conventional construction, and has fluid hose H connected thereto and to a suitable source of fluid supply to supply fluid under pressure therei to and to conduct fluid therefrom, if hydraulic fluid is extending outwardly from the respective first bore hole 7 and from the second bore hole in the frame plate. It is preferable to have the legs 72 also secured to mounting plate 68, as by welding, to make a rigid structure. The mounting plate 68 has holes 76 around the periphery thereof to receive cap screws 78 therethrough, which cap screws threadably engage an inturned flange 80, which flange 80 extends inward from the periphery of the upper side of housing 34. The mounting plate 68 has a hole 81 bored therein to receive a bearing 82 therein. Framework 74 has a hole 75 bored therein, which hole 75 is in axial alignment with the hole 81 in mounting plate 68 and receives a bearing 84 therein, which bearings 82 and 84 journal the hollow shaft or short length of pipe 24 therein. Seals 88 and 90 in mounting plate 68 prevent utilized as the motive power. However, if air is used as the motive power, only one hose need be used.

A chain 134 surrounds sprockets 98 and 112 in driving relation, and a chain 136 surrounds sprockets 114 and 126 to connect these sprockets in driving relation. Since the sprockets 112 and 114 are secured to and are rotatable with shaft which connects the fluid motor 118 in driving relation through sprockets 126, chain 136, sprocket 114, shaft 110, sprocket 112, chain 134, and sprocket 98 with hollow drive shaft or pipe 24 to rotate the hollow drive shaft to rotate the drill pipe or tubing 30 which is connected in driven relation through a connecting pipe 28.

The sprockets 98 and 112, together with chain 134 form one unit of the gearing members, and sprocket 114, sprocket126 and chain 136 form another unit of the gearing members, and while sprockets and chains have been shown to form these gearing members, it is to be understood that sprockets and chains are not to be construed as the only form of gearing members that may be used.

The pump 130, as best shown in FIG. 5, is of the centrifugal type and has a pump bearing plate 127 which holds the shaft in journaled relation with respect thereto.

The bearing plate 127 also serves as an anchor member, which enables cap screws 131 to pass through slots 129 to threadably engage the bearing plate or anchor member 127. By having the bearing plate 127 within the housing 34, the pump housing, and the pump impeller may be removed from the exterior of the housing 34 before the removal of the housing 34 from the mounting plate 68.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimed as new and'desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A drive mechanism for rotating pipe in the drilling of a bore hole, which drive mechanism comprises:

(a) a top mounting plate,

(b) a frame plate,

(1) legs extending upwardly from said frame plate and being Weldably secured to said top moun-t ing plate to hold said frame plate a spaced distance from said .top mounting plate,

(2) said top mounting plate and said. frame plate each having axially aligned first bore holes formed therein,

(3) said top mounting plate and said frame plate each having axially aligned second bore holes formed therein and being spaced laterally from said first bore holes,

(4) said top mounting plate having a third bore hole formed therein which hole is laterally spaced from said second bore hole in said top mounting plate,

(c) a bearing fitted in each of said first and in each said second bore holes,

(d) a hollow shaft journaled within said hearings in said first bore holes and being fixed against longitudinal movement with respect to said top mounting plate and said frame plate,

(e) a gearing member fixedly secured to said hollow shaft intermediate said top mounting plate and said frame plate,

(f) a countersh aft journaled within said bearings within said second bores in said top mounting plate and in said frame plate,

(g) a pair of gearing members mounted on said countershaft intermediate said top mounting plate and said frame plate and being fixedly secured to said countershaf-t,

(1) one of said gearing members being connected in driving relation with said gearing member mounted on said hollow shaft,

(h) motor drive means mounted on the upper side of said top mounting plate,

(1) the shaft of said motor drive means extending through said third bore hole in said top mounting plate,

(2) gearing means on said shaft connected in driv' ing relation with the other of said gearing members on said countershaft,

(i) a housing,

(1) said housing having a bore hole formed therein which is in axially aligned relation with the first bore holes in said top mounting plate and in said frame plate when said housing is fitted in place on the lower side of said top mounting plate,

(2) said top mounting plate, said frame plate and said legs being constructed so that the legs extending between said frame plate and said top mounting plate are spaced apart sufiiciently to permit the insertion of gearing members into operating position and to permit the removal of said gearing members therefrom, said assembly being maintained in operable relation independently of said housing,

(j) sealing means surrounding said hollow shaft and forming a seal between said housing and said shaft on the lower side of said housing, and

(k) bolt means securing said housing to said top mounting plate.

.2. A drive mechanism for rotating pipe in the drilling of a bore hole, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said frame plate has a main central frame section 'of less width than said top mount-ing plate,

(b) outwardly extending frame plate sections made integral with said main frame plate section and extending outwardly from the respective first bore hole in said frame plate and said second bore hole in said frame plate, said legs which extend from said frame plate to the lower side of said top mounting plate and being integral with said respective radially extending frame plate sections and being at the respective distal ends thereof.

3. A drive mechanism for rotating pipe in the drilling of a bore hole, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said motor drive means is a fluid motor,

(b) a motor mounting plate lying in the same plane as said top mounting plate,

(0) an annular ring secured to said motor mounting plate on the upper side thereof and being adapted to extend outwardly into the top mounting plate on the upper side thereof a spaced distance around said third bore hole in said top mounting plate,

( 1) said annular ring having slots formed therein,

(2) said top mounting plate having threaded holes formed therein around said third bore hole in said top mounting plate and being adapted to be in aligned relation with said slots in said annular ring when in one position, and

(d) screw threaded .bolt means passing through said slots and threadably engaging said holes in said mounting plate to hold said motor in fixed relation with respect to said top mounting plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,377,575 5/21 Greve 173--57 1,511,336 10/24 Hoey. 2,560,233 7/51 Maier. 3,012,620 12/61 Gaines 173-441 3,029,661 4/ 62 Schmitter 74-467 3,053,330 9/62 Arthur 17357 BROUGHTON G. DURHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DRIVE MECHANISM FOR ROTATING PIPE IN THE DRILLING OF A BORE HOLE, WHICH DRIVE MECHANISM COMPRISES: (A) A TOP MOUNTING PLATE, (B) A FRAME PLATE, (1) LEGS EXTENDING UPWARDLY FROM SAID FRAME PLATE AND BEING WELDABLY SECURED TO SAID TOP MOUNTING PLATE TO HOLD SAID FRAME PLATE A SPACED DISTANCE FROM SAID TOP MOUNTING PLATE, (2) SAID TOP MOUNTING PLATE AND SAID FRAME PLATE EACH HAVING AXIALLY ALIGNED FIRST BORE HOLES FORMED THERIN, (3) SAID TOP MOUNTING PLATE AND SAID FRAME PLATE EACH HAVING AXIALLY ALIGNED SECOND BORE HOLES 